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Ulli Tückmantel, editor in chief of the Westdeutsche Zeitung told euronews: “It means, that the SPD has to worry about, whether Mr. Schulz can become Chancellor with his strategy.

“The “Schulz-train” – as he likes to say – has derailed now for the third time:

“They need to re-think their strategy. Mrs. Merkel on the other hand is stronger than ever.”

The SPD had until recently enjoyed a boost in national polls, but the defeat in their stronghold of North Rhine Westphalia suggests local voters had tired of them.

A voter said: “I am glad, that there is a change. Everything was more of the same. There was no going forward. They wanted to do something, but then they didn’t. There were too many disappointments. A change had to come, no matter how.”